Do all caps and an exclamation mark do justice to how excited I am about Toy Fair 2010 ? Not even close. With all of the leaks, with all of the stolen Chinese toys, they still seem to absolutely amaze me. There’s usually at least a few pure unadulterated "WOW!" moments. Then there are known releases that once they confirm the details, I am less then underwhelmed. For the first time ever, I literally monitored fan sites and Twitter for real time updates. I don’t know how these guys do it. There were slides from the presentations that were literally going up within minutes of them being shown. It was just like I was there, down to the part where I’m taking shots, because I was.

Noticing a pattern here? That’s right SDCC is shaping up to be a big pile of awesome. This is why we have a new contest, definitely impromptu, but could be fun. Please call us at 720.235.TOYS (8697) and tell us what your favorite thing at Toy Fair was. We will randomly choose a caller, buy them an exclusive of their choice from one of the franchises at SDCC and pay for the shipping from the show. Before you get too enthusiastic, you still have to pay for the item plus tax, but you get free shipping and our promise to do whatever it takes to get you what you want from the big show.

22 Comments on "Open Your Toys Cast - Episode 030: TOY FAIR 2010!"

Is it a bird, is it Starscream’s ghost?… No, it’s TF fans favorite female transformer, ARCEE! For some time now, the closest thing to Arcee we were given were various versions of Elita-One. With the exception of ROTF’s totally crappy “Arcee Unit” fugly motorcycle version, TF fans haven’t seen a true Arcee toy that looked anything near what she looked like in the G1 cartoons. But now, 22 years after appearing in the movie and cartoon, Arcee is now an official Hasbro Transformer. Why she wasn’t produced as a Headmaster with Daniel, the world may never know. Nevertheless, the wait is over, and I think TF fans, along with Springer, are finally happy to have an Arcee version we can physically “play” with.

Vehicle Mode - (4 out of 5 Saber Points)

Very similar to the G1 version, her futuristic car mode is both sleek & sexy. My only 2 beefs with her vehicle mode are the removable parts…which I have never been a fan of. Arcee’s wing blades & swords are removable. I understand the purpose of her swords turning into “blue flames” in vehicle mode, but I’m not sure why her wing blades need to be removed. They don’t act as shields or anything, so I look at it as more of a cop-out shortcut in transformation engineering. Besides that, when Arcee is displayed in her car mode, she kicks delicious butt and looks identical to the Animated cartoon’s version.

Robot Mode - (5 out of 5 Saber Points)

Arcee’s dark pink mixed with white and hints of black are a very fashionable color scheme. Her legs can be spread (giggle) nice and wide (chuckle) so you can pose her wonderfully on your shelf in any position (canned laughter).

Mold - (5 out of 5 Saber Points)

I’m a tremendously huge fan of the Animated toy line. I believe the cartoons and toys look almost identical to each other. I’m not discrediting the Masterpiece collection at all, which in my opinion is the greatest because they are obviously a spitting image of the G1 toys & cartoons, but on a much large scale. Anyhow, Arcee is no different than any other Animated mold. If both the vehicle and robot molds look like the cartoon, it’s a winner!

Weapons - (4 out of 5 Saber Points)

We didn’t see much of Arcee in the Animated cartoon. Nor did we see much of her “blue blades.” I think the blades are cool and all, but Arcee wielded a laser gun in the G1 cartoon…so why couldn’t she wield one now? What are they trying to say? What, cybertronic fembots should only be in the kitchen cutting up vegetables?!?!

Transformation - (4 out of 5 Saber Points)

Unlike the ROTF toy line, which I find a little too challenging to transform sometimes , the Animated toy line is a little less challenging but more fun. I was happy that Arcee’s arms and legs didn’t fall off during transformation like Lockdown, Ratchet, and others.

OVERALL - (4.5 out of 5 Saber Points)

Arcee was a much better figure than I thought she would be. She looks like the spitting image of G1 Arcee with that wonderfully spicy Animated twist. She only lost .5 points for the removable wing blades. Besides that, Arcee was worth the wait, and she is a definite buy for any collector.

i’m so looking 4ward to this animated arcee coming out nxt mth i preorded 2copys of her because i know she’ll be a sellout.she’ll be great to stand along side with fansproject springer and classic hotrod .wonder when animated rodimus prime will be out ?? these r prob they only few decent figs comin out this yr in tfs line .

The toy looks and sounds amazing. Thanks for another stellar review. Still haven’t been able to find one out my way. The energy swords are an homage to her comic incarnation.

Can’t wait to read your HA Barricade review. On the fence right now with that one.

@craig andrews

Welcome to the fam Craig! Looks like you were definitely smarter than I by preordering her. I hoping I don’t miss the boat. The Fansproject Springer is awesome just a little steep for my cheap ass. However, I’ll be first in the line for Rodimus Prime armor. Also extremely excited for the Animated Rodimus. With him being the only mold left, I just hope they don’t do some con exclusive or something. All fans deserve a new Rodimus.

Fewer Transformers………..Ahrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,i’m a At-St in Jedi fan,they just had more screen time,those SDCC Exclusives for TF & Star Wars look insane,i smell a hook up for those hey Slick-wink wink & Aayla secura is that in the show notes? Great show as ever.

“TF-1’s Barricade was one of the best figures that came out of the line in my opinion. His vehicle mode was incredibly realistic and his robot mode was a spitting image of what he looked like in the movie. Barricade plays an important character in the movie for us TF fans because he was the first decepticon introduced to us…and now the battle begins. For TF Movie figure collectors such as myself, there is only one thing better than a deluxe figure…and that’s either or Leader or Human Alliance figure!”

Vehicle Mode - (5 out of 5 Saber Points)

Perfecto! A drop dead gorgeous vehicle mode. Human Alliance Barricade is transformers perfection at it’s finest! From the colors, to the decals and details, HA Barricade is the ultimate in shelf display goodness. Unfortunately, Frenzy is still the driver…I would have much rather preferred that ‘holographic Dale Earnhardt Sr.” as a removable figure behind the driver’s seat, but the car mode is too perfect to care bout such noble nonsense!

Robot Mode - (5 out of 5 Saber Points)

Exactly like the movie, from the face to the shape! Only thing I don’t like about him, like most HA figures, is that silly little custom mold on the arm that allows for a human, or in this case frenzy, to sit on. Other than that, posing Barricade rolling around with HA Bumblebee is now a possibility. He’s still no match for the Goliath that is Supreme Class Bumblebee though…but maybe Hasbro will do something about that? Hopefully not, the idea alone sounds expensive.

Mold - (4 out of 5 Saber Points)

I have likes and dislikes about TF Movie figures. For example ROTF Soundwave transforms from an ugly, disporportioned robot, to a yucky satellite and terrible “spaceship.” Transformations like Soundwaves are cop-outs from really trying to make a figure look really good in each of their modes. HA Barricade on the other hand, looks like a perfect vehicle. Although the robot mold is very “beastly, or creaturely” it is a much better mold than a Soundwave type.

Weapons - (5 out of 5 Saber Points)

Hasbro added on ROTF HA Barricade what was missing in TF-1’s version of the deluxe…his wonderful spikey tire thingy. It looks really cool, now he can shred any autobot in his path! ROTF Interrogator Barricade comes with the 2 “Return Of The Jedi” long eyeball thingies…I wish HA Barricade would have come with those instead. Nevertheless, eventhough HA Barricade does not have a gun, you can pose this bad boy with his spinning spikey tire thingie, and he’s all good!

Transformation - (5 out of 5 Saber Points)

Fun to transform. I’m not a huge fan of the HA figures because of their “fisher priceyness,” but I must admit, transforming HA Barricade was quite challenging. I don’t look at instructions when transforming…I consider it a sin to do so. But I do look at the back of the boxes to make sure my figure matches their figure. You ever wonder why the picture they have has a ton of different color scheme changes than the figure you actually own? Hmmmm. Oh, another cool thing about my version of HA Barricade: My instructions say: “Decipticon.” I wonder if I can sell the instruction booklet for $1,000 on Ebay? Any takers?

OVERALL - (5 out of 5 Saber Points)

I can’t say it enough, HA Barricade is freaking awesome! Slicky, you mentioned about being on the fence about getting him. Let me tell you brotha, if you are a Barricade fan, and you like the Deluxe…you will like the HA version. HA Barricade is like Deluxe Barricade on crack!

I’m not necessarily a Barricade fan even though I went completionist with him for the first flic. That was more because I am Bumblebee fan. Ever since that first scene of a “live-action” Autobot and Decepticon going toe to toe I was sold. It started with that first Walmart exclusive 2-pack and it looks like it will continue with Human Alliance Barricade.

Haven’t recorded it yet, but show notes are a go. Just been a busy ass weekend. Still crossing my fingers.

@Saber

Time to return your TRU purchases. Today only BOGO 50% at TRU. If by chance you see the Animate Exclusives, pick them up for me! Still only 99% on Botcon. It all depends on flights. Only way I can go is with points. Should know this week for sure. Any progress on sleeping arrangements? Still would need to be somewhere around $30-40/night range for me. Hit me up on the celly when you get a chance.

ok, catching up but… Slick, you should think about doing a mini-documentary about your Pursuit of the Pursuit of Cobra-Cobra carded cobra Commander. Wow, that was a lot of C’s. Anyway think of how artsy you could make this documentary. How hard is it to hunt down a chase figure from hasbro. Probably epic hard. Could be very cool. You’ve got a Falcon full of experience under your belt. Could be a Sundance Film Festival entry for 2011.

Also, I like the Slaughter with the Triple-T tank look much better. Wouldn’t mind getting one of those. USA version looks kinda lame.

This podcast makes me glad I never got the new He-Man bug. I kinda wanted the Zodac variant but man what a mess Mattel is. Mattel has to know by know that this toys sell like hotcakes. Why not make a quantity to meet demand?

I honestly do not collect for the money. It’s just a pure fun thing. I always open my toys. Occasionally I sell stuff just cause I need room or pay for some friggin college books. Haven’t really done carded keepers since Power of the Force in the 90’s.